This is one of those pivotal shows in GD History.
Having just watched the movie it was so obviously a labor of love. A great tribute to Uncle Bobo to boot.
The Music itself was sweet!
I am not sure how they had anything left after that :
Dark Star>Other One>Dark Star>
Wharf Rat>St. Stephen>Good Lovin
but they came back with a smooth Casey Jones
and a blazing and I mean blazin' Johnny B Goode.
I KNOW IT'S ONLY ROCK N ROLL ...

Hey Wang Dang:

Sorry you hate life, but this is a review site. Review what you remember or what you hear. If that involves some personal experience, that’s great! We don’t need anyone policing us or editing us. Sounds like maybe you could use some liquid and a time machine yourself.

The slow energy of this very late show matches the time on the clock. By the time Not Fade Away begins, it’s 3am snd people are gooey and stretchy and the music is too. So fitting for the closing of this weird sounding echo chamber/history making ice rink.

Comparing the Winterland DVD and these Archive.org versions presents a bit of a problem. The DVD seemed slow to me, especially on Wharf Rat. Going to the archive.org shows provides a different perspective. The speed seems to sync up, then go faster, then slower and so forth. Really strange. Wharf Rat vocals are extraordinary. Wondering if the speeds are off to anyone else?

Of course this is a historically significant show for any Dead Head, end of the era of both Winterland and Keith eras.

.....and "Wang Dong" is so right. The reviews on these pages should be about the content on them. This isn't a forum to tell people about the joint you smoked, the seat you had, the car you drove or whatever. If you want to do that, go find an appropriate site - this isn't it. If you can't find one, make one.

Terrapin is so good

Hey, "Wang Dong" people can write whatever they want here. This is a community page where people can share their thoughts on the show, the recording, the events around their experience of the show, etc. You're not here to dictate other people's experience. Feel free to just chose not to read reviews, if you don't like them.

[Sheesh! Will all you people stick to writing a review of the show and not about your life story about how you and your buddies took the train and dropped some liquid and it was really cool and then how you partied after the show. . . Blah, blah, blah, blah! Rediculous! It's says to write a review!]


The grateful dead in 78 were a little tired after the spectacular high energy 66-77 run. It shows here. The setlist is much greater then the performance.
Highlights:

1) Scarlet/fire
2) Not fade away

At times they increase the tempo, but the performance gets sloppy when they do. For the most part, they ease the tempo and the execution is better when they do. I give it 3 &1/2 stars.

I was at this show with about 8 of my buddies from HIGH school, class of 77, from our school in SF Sunset District. Most of us dropped the A bomb (4 way) and walked there from our friends house. Saw the Blues Brothers, but I know we were just starting to crank when New Years hit, the balloons dropped, the lights flashed, and Sugar Mag started!!!I had all my buds around, about 6 feet from the stage, and it was one of those times when you just "smile, smile,smile"! Anyway,I have seen the Dead probably close to 100 times and this was the best show ever. Jerry during Scarlet/Fire was on FIRE, but we had one of those moments where Jerry looks at me cause I am pointing at him with two arms and I say to myself, "Jerry knows I am frying" and he just smiles. So, when I watch the DVD there is the one part during Fire that I recall that look! Anyway,thought I would share1

The atypical, yet joyous aNd life-reaffirming opening at midnight of Sugar Magnolia-Scarlet-Fire is truly gobsmacking. The archetypal Jerry licks during the transition and lead-in to Fire on the Mountain are unparalleled. Anyone who wishes to know within two minutes what made Jerry's guitar playing historically notable only need listen to those couple of minutes. Next comes his signature virtuoso phrasing during Fire. I had to wipe the drool from my chin.

After determined, driving versions of Me and My Uncle and Big River comes a masterfully lyrical Friend of the Devil. If you actually survive Terrapin-Playing and make it through the 47 min aural ecstasy of Dark Star-Other One-Dark Star-Wharf Rat-St. Stephen-Good Lovin', then you can lay yourself down and die a peaceful death.

Impeccable. Extraordinary. Special. This is one example of a truly significant occasion that the Dead nailed from beginning to end. 4+ Hours of Nirvana, which must be considered in the Top 10 of all time Dead shows.

One of the greatest of all time, hands down. The Closing of Winterland DVD is the only way to go for this one. Four and a half hours, man...

...and see if you can dig up that Blues Brothers set - what a cool opening show!

Jazzy Jer and company tear it up for New Years, youch! Check out the YouTube videos of the dvd and if you weren't before, you'll be forever sold on this wonderful show.

This is just wonderful. It's too bad that when you buy an official release they won't let you have the bootleg with it. I'd just love to hear the Jay Ashley remaster of this.

When I first started listening to the Dead, I loved this one. Then I forgot about it for a while. I have no other words but I just found it so you should know where I'm at.

This was also an important show in Deaddom for several reasons other than it being a good show. It was the last show in San Francisco's Winterland, which had been the Dead's home field since the '60's. I remember going past the half-torn-down building six months later.

This show is also important in that the Band brought back Dark Star. They had not played Dark Star since 10-18-74, and only played it 6 times in '74.

I had the bootleg LP as well (still have it)--3 vinyl disks. Bought it in Berkeley about 6 months after the show, about the same time they were wrecking Winterland.

I used to have a dub of a bootleg album of this show. It was weird - all of the jam out of Scarlet and all of Fire was skipped, so it went from the end of Donna's vocalizing straight to the coda. I never even knew that wasn't how the show went until I got the DVD. It's a nice, trippy Scarlet>Fire, and I totally agree about the Ramble on Rose.

I wonder why they so rarely did this bluesy kind of jam out of Miracle in the 80's. It sounds so natural. Of course, they usually didn't have a harp player.

Of course, the prize is the 3rd set. Again, my old tape was cut, so I didn't even know they played St. Stephen. The transition from Dark Star into The Other One is so smooth, you could easily miss it. Come back, and they're playing The Other One. Then comes an indescribably sweet segue back into Dark Star, followed shortly by perhaps the all-time Wharf Rat. Watching it on DVD, you see how focused and intense Jerry is, his whole body swaying, totally into it. Absolutely worth the $ for the DVD.

BTW, gotta say I'm inspired by the guy who just discovered the Dead. It's always great to see a newbie get turned on to the greatest band of all time, and this is definitely the show to do it. Welcome to the Deadhead family!

I always loved this show when I had it on tape. Then I saw that it was available on DVD. Then three days after finding this out, and not having $30 to buy it, I found the DVD in almost mint condition for $4.95 at some used game store. What a find! Absolutely the best Ramble EVER.

2 weeks ago I had never listened to the DEAD and only knew Casey Jones and Truckin. I picked up the DVD for this show at my local library and have been changed forever. I essentially had a musical catharsis! I am 26 and have turned to classic rock after getting sick of all the "new rock" that is out there. For the past 2 years all i have listened to is Hendrix, Doors, Led Zeppelin, Sabbath, etc. Why not the Dead? I cannot believe that it has taken me this long to "discover" the Dead! This show is unbelieveable! Although the only comparison i have is the Barton Hall show (from this archive - thanx!). I am now devoted to hearing everything I can. Thanks Jerry!

on am basing this on the dvd and not the download, but man what a whopper. I recommend finding 5 1/2 hrs out of your life and listening to this beauty. So good you forget donna is even there. One wonders why this isn't considered as one of the greatest of all time.

revised: I'm a big "cornell 77" guy. Listening to this show, I think it gives barton hall a run for its money. Can't say enough. why more people haven't commented and found this beauty is beyond me.

Feel compelled to add my 2 cents. Just popped in the DVD to the 2nd set and had forgotten just how good this is. It rivals anything they ever did. The Samson bristles with energy, and when Jerry finds the groove and runs with it, it's one of those moments you wish the world could have seen. A mesmerizing Ramble On Rose, followed by a nicely fleshed out long version of Miracle. It flows into Terrapin... one of THE most faithful, tenderest renderings of it I've ever heard. Not bombastic, but gentle, and heartfelt, and I still don't know what the hell it's all about. Don't care. I remember arranging all the stereo equipment to take advantage of the broadcast at the time, and I think I was asleep by the time this set came on. Snoozed and lost! Thank God for DVD's and this archive. Yeah, 5 big ones.

Buy the DVD and/or CD set from GDM. You won't be disappointed. One of the best of '78.

What a great show...I even like From the Heart of Me.....everything is great. They all go crazy on NFA>Aroound and Around. The Dark Star>The Other One>Dark Star is great except that only sing the first verses of each song....2nd DS should just be labeled Dark Star Jam. The transition between the two is powerful. A beautiful Wharf Rat....encores are sweet....watch the video Jerry is goin wild on Johnny B Goode hes all dancin and shit.........and Jerry doesnt kill Adam (if you meant kill as in ruin it)he kicks some ass hes doin great..check it out you'll see for yourself

BUY THE DVD! check out the old footage of Dick...and the Blues Brothers, and Winterland, and Darkstar!!!

i just bought the dvd and it`s excellent..bill grahams entrance has to be seen to be believed...great show..a must buy..

There's not enough words to describe this great show. I was there and it remains one the best nights of my life. The DVD does this show justice. Man, do I miss Winterland. Those were the days!!

I promise to buy this show and the DVD, me and my friend heard about the Closing DVD and heard Jerry kills it. But I makea vow to get this show, I don`t want to disrespect the Dead camp or the man who posted this show, but I will buy it.

This is an excellent show!
Remember that it has been released by GD Productions. Support the continuing band and GD organization by buying the show from them and not downloading it for free.
I give all my music (GD shows) away for free, except for any show released by GD productions to continue my support.
Keep the dream alive!
Peace.

If you haven't seen the Closing of Winterland DVD then you must get this show. The set list is unreal and the show is just a showcase of Jerry's talent. A must have for any fan of the grateful dead.